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Lesson 10

Prayer: Listening to Jesus

(John 14)

Introduction: Is prayer just a one-way communication? We talk and
then we talk some more? If you say, "No," prayer is both speaking to
God and listening for His answer, then you will want to jump into
this lesson with us. Last week, we discussed how Daniel prayed to God
to be able to go home. This week our study is John 14 where we find
Jesus answering the "how to go home" prayers of His disciples before
they even feel the need. These words are part of God's message to
His disciples in all ages when we face confusing and trying
situations.

The Last Supper: Advance Comfort

You remember that Jesus celebrated Passover with His
disciples the night before He was crucified? This dinner
is called the "Last Supper." Turn with me to John 14 where
we pick up Jesus' conversation with His disciples at the
Last Supper.

Read John 14:1. What was about to happen to Jesus? What
was about to happen to the disciples? (If you don't know,
read John chapters 18-19)

What do the words of verse 1 teach us about God's
concern about problems in our lives? (Jesus had such
compassion for His disciples that He gave them
comfort them before they even knew they had a
problem!)

Do we have to worry about our problems and
difficulties?

If we don't worry, won't we face disaster? (Jesus is
not suggesting laziness. He is saying "trust Me."
"Leave those burdens with Me."

Why did Jesus make a distinction between God and Him
("trust in God; trust also in me") when it cames to
trust? (The disciples were about to enter a time when
their preconceived ideas about Jesus as the Messiah
would be tested. Jesus would not be "doing the right
thing" and neither would God in the confused minds of
the disciples.)

Stop a minute to analyze why you worry? What, at
bottom, are you worried about? (I find that most of
my worries arise from a concern about personal
embarrassment. I'm going to look bad - be put in a
bad light. A blow to my pride.)

Are the disciples worried about "looking like fools"
if their Master, who they claim is the Messiah, is
put to death by the Romans? (This is probably one of
the emotions they faced. They would struggle with the
issue of whether they were wrong about Jesus being
the Messiah. Jesus is trying to help them with this
coming problem.)

How does trusting in God answer our concerns
about being embarrassed? (I am worried about me
- a matter of pride. If I understand that the
solutions to life's problems do not turn on my
importance, if my pride is not an important
matter, then I can more easily trust God for
solutions.)

When you pray, does God give the answer to "trust
Him?" Is that good enough for you?

Read John 14:2-3. Given what you know about the immediate
future for the disciples, why do you think Jesus is
talking about housing and bringing the disciples home? (He
was about to be ripped from them and leave this life. They
were going to be emotionally and physically set adrift in
this world.)

What is the relevance to your worries that Jesus has
a room for you in His heavenly house? (We obviously
know the "end of the story" for Jesus and the
disciples. But, we still have worries about the
future. If we are not worried about our pride, we are
probably worried about our stuff. "Stuff-worry," is
really the same pride problem. Jesus says He will
ultimately provide for our "stuff worries." Quite
worrying!)

How much of your present prayers are directed to
protecting your stuff?

Should you now consider those prayers
answered and move on to something else?

What else does Jesus promise of housing say about our
worries? (A couple of things: 1) He wants us to keep
our eye on the future. That is a backdrop for all we
do. 2) We are so important to Jesus that He invited
us to live with Him. This is not just a casual
invitation like you might get from a friend. Jesus
tells us that He is going to come looking for us to
take us to His mansion. He loves us that much!)

The Last Supper: Answered Questions

Read John 14:4-5. The pastor once invited me to his house.
I was lost for an hour. It turns out that, like me,
Thomas had the practical concern about learning the
directions to get to Jesus' house.

Did the disciples even know Jesus was going away?
(They could have known, but they did not want to come
to grips with it. See Matthew 16:21-23.)

How would you feel if you did not know the when,
where or how of an important event?

What does this text teach us about Jesus'
willingness to give us comfort on those
questions?

Do you know the way to Jesus' house?

How would you answer Thomas?

Let's read on. Read John 14:6-7. What answer does Jesus
give to this directions question?

What does Jesus mean when He says He is "the way?"
Would this make any sense to you if you were one of
the disciples?

Should we be discouraged if sometimes God's
answers to our problems do not seem to make
sense?(There is a great truth in Jesus' answer.
The way home is a relationship, not a direction.
It is an attitude, not an action. Only through
Jesus can we come to the Father in heaven.)

What does Jesus mean when He says He is "the truth?"
Would the disciples soon be confused about what was
the truth? (They would be very confused. Verse 7 is
the key. If we know Jesus, we know the Father. If
they would just focus on what He had told them, they
would understand the truth.)

How about you? How much time do you spend
studying to find the truth in the life of Jesus?

Do you make a distinction in your mind between
the God of the Old Testament and Jesus?

What does Jesus say about such distinctions? (He
says we need to understand that the picture He
gave us in His life is the appropriate framework
for understanding God's actions in the Old
Testament.)

What does Jesus mean when He says He is "the life?"
We know He was about to be killed! How does this make
any sense? (He not only gives direction to this life,
He not only reveals the nature of God, He is the only
means to eternal life at His house!)

In the context of living in Jesus' house, read
John 14:23. How long do we have to wait to live
with Jesus? (This is a promise that can be
spiritually filled now!)

In John 14:7 Jesus tells us that we have now seen God. How
does that differ from the Old Testament experience? (In
Exodus 33:20 God tells Moses that he cannot see God's face
or he will die.)

Why is it different with Jesus? (Jesus came to
reconcile us to God. That is why He is the way to
eternal life. See Ephesians 2:13-16 and Colossians
1:19-22.)

Let's continue on with reading John. Read John 14:8. What
does Philip's question teach us about our prayers? (No
question is too dumb for God!)

Let's read Jesus' answer to this question in John
14:9-11. How would you characterize Jesus' answer to
Philip?

Is He patient?

Is He kind?

Is He pleading?

How would you have answered Philip's question?

The Last Supper: Promises of Power

Re-read John 14:11. What do you think about believing in
someone based on miracles? Compare Revelation 13:11-13. Is
Jesus arguing that the miracles show that He is God? (When
we get in tough times we look for "evidence" we are on the
right road. Jesus says His miracles are "evidence." He
does not say they are conclusive.)

Read John 14:12. What further proof does Jesus suggest we
can we have of His divinity? (We can have the power to do
miracles! Christ's power in us is evidence of who He is!
He is not going to be dead. Jesus is going to be opening a
new era of power for those who follow Him because He is
going to the Father.)

Should we expect miracles in answer to our prayers to God?
If you say, "yes," why is it that we don't see many
miracles? Why is it that more often people die instead
of being healed when we pray?

My wife periodically points out that everyone who
asked me to "anoint" them (see James 5:14) while they
were dying, still died. She recently suggested it
might be better not to have me anoint anyone! What is
the problem?

Read John 14:13-15. Is this a blanket promise that we can
heal people if we ask Jesus? (Verse 12 says that we need
faith. Verse 15 suggests that we need love and obedience.
I think the problem with a lack of healing potentially
points to failures on our part, and not on the part of
God. We need to trust that God is doing the best thing in
the circumstances and remember that His greatest miracle
is the miracle that He was about to ensure through the
cross-- that He will be taking us home with Him where
there will be no more sickness.)

Read John 14:16-17. What else does Jesus promise us in
answer to prayer? (The Holy Spirit!)

Read John 14:26. What role does the Holy Spirit play
in our life? (He will teach us and help us to
understand Jesus' words. This was the critical need
that His disciples were about to have. Before they
even knew they had a problem, Jesus told them how to
find the solution!)

How important to your prayer life is understanding
God's will for you?

Have you asked Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit?
The gift of understanding?

Read John 14:27. What gift does God give us when we pray?
(He give us peace.)

How important a gift is peace?

How many of you have prayed to God and as a result
been given peace about a problem in your life?

Friend, God cares about our troubles. John 14 shows us
that even before the disciples knew they had a problem,
even before they prayed for help and understanding, Jesus
gave it to them. He is just as anxious to answer our
prayers and give us peace. The question is, will you turn
to Him?

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